Drug interactions
Cortisone + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent
Severity: Moderate
Cortisone and Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Systemic corticosteroids suppress immune function and can reduce antibody responses to vaccines, particularly at high doses or with prolonged use. The 13-valent conjugate vaccine is non-live, so it is not contraindicated and should still be given because patients on steroids are at higher risk of pneumococcal disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cortisone and Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids suppress lymphocyte function and cytokine signalling, which can blunt the vaccine antibody response.
What to do
Vaccinate when indicated, preferably before starting or during lower-dose therapy. Consider checking response in high-risk patients on prolonged high-dose steroids.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent
- Adalimumab + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent Moderate
- Alefacept + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent Moderate
- Anakinra + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent Moderate
- Anti-thymocyte + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent Moderate
- Antithymocyte globulin equine + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent Moderate
- Antithymocyte globulin rabbit + Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cortisone with Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cortisone and Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Systemic corticosteroids suppress immune function and can reduce antibody responses to vaccines, particularly at high doses or with prolonged use. The 13-valent conjugate vaccine is non-live, so it is not contraindicated and should still be given because patients on steroids are at higher risk of pneumococcal disease.
How serious is the interaction between Cortisone and Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Vaccinate when indicated, preferably before starting or during lower-dose therapy. Consider checking response in high-risk patients on prolonged high-dose steroids.
What other medicines interact with Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent with, for example, Adalimumab, Alefacept, Anakinra. The full list is on the Pneumococcal vaccine 13-valent page.
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